Compression Gear Has 'Moderate Effect' on Muscle Damage

Researchers find evidence supporting use after hard workouts.

A research round-up supports the growing consensus that compression gear can help speed recovery after workouts that induce noticeable muscle damage.

Writing in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, British researchers report that their analysis of earlier studies finds that wearing compression gear has a "moderate effect" following workouts that typically lead to delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). That is, it helps to lessen the severity and/or duration of DOMS.

For runners, DOMS most often occurs after running on courses with steep downhill sections, but it can also happen after runs that are significantly longer or faster than you're used to.

Two-thirds of athletes who wear compression gear after workouts that cause perceptible muscle damage say the gear helps lessen the severity of DOMS, the researchers note.

Compression gear worn after such workouts also helps to lessen decreases in muscle strength and power, the researchers concluded. Taken together, these improvements should mean being able to resume regular training more quickly.

Why compression gear is effective in this manner has yet to be "empirically demonstrated," the researchers write. The leading theory is that external pressure from the gear reduces the space available for swelling to occur within muscles, which in turn may lead to feeling less soreness.

The video below gives guidance on how to select properly fitting compression gear.

Compress to Impress - Tips on the Best Fit

Use these three tips to get the best fit of your compression gear. And learn how to measure yourself before you head to the store to purchase compession gear.